Happier | BTS | [Eng]

I - 15 MILLION WON

Seoul, spring 2020, around the middle of February

In the Itaewon district, some lights were still unhurried to replace the first rays of the morning light. At the bend of the antiquaries’ street, the new eco-neighborhood was already teeming with life. While one of its buildings was beginning to empty, apartment 07 was still immersed in the calm that precedes the awakening of its occupants.

It was a large loft with a main facade that overlooked the entire city. Large blue curtains were still closed on the bay window and prevented the dawn light from illuminating the apartment, but a few shy rays were already caressing the old photos hanging on the living room walls. Looking at them, you'd think you could hear the laughter, feel the freshness of swimming in the middle of summer, or imagine the choreography and shivers of the stage. You could see youth, friendship, and happiness.

At the entrance, a corridor led to the kitchen and living room, which were united in a single large room. The walls were immaculate white. In the middle was a grey velvet sofa with blue cushions and comfortable white and ochre poufs. They were arranged around a rectangular glass coffee table on a large soft carpet. The main attraction of the kitchen was a beautiful marble counter that separated it from the dining room. For meals, it had a rosewood round table for eight people, although the tenants had never used it. There were only four of them, but "And if we have guests, where will you put them?" asked Bo Hwa the day they almost bought a smaller table. On both sides of the main room, there was a laundry room on the right with a small verandah; and on the left, one of their favorite rooms: the bathroom. It had tiled walls with some purple and white spots. Several objects reminiscent of the beach also decorated it. The sink, bathtub and the perimeter of the oval mirror were decorated with the youngest girl's shell collection, which she was absolutely determined to keep.

* * *

The apartment was now rocked by a sweet melody. Magic Shop by BTS played in mute from the kitchen. There was also the slight ringing of a few utensils in the sink and the sound of the tap water jet. Han Jin Ah, the oldest, had been cooking for a few hours already.

She was a tall, slim, pretty young woman, who had kept the same beautiful line of teenage models. She was twenty-two years old, but her brand new angled blunt gave her five years less. She had a small face and deep dimples were dug on her cheeks every time she smiled. Her jet hair often fell back on her forehead, which she found far too small. It had become a habit for her to run her fingers through it and send them back.

The timer on the counter rang to announce the end of the cooking of the red fruit tarts. The machine's clock reads seven ten in the morning.

Han Mi So woke up suddenly from a sweet dream. As with every awakening, her long, slightly damp eyelashes struggled to let her eyes open. She rubbed them gently and then spread the few curly strands that were lying around on her face. It had been a long night: she had spent it sketching in her drawing book to prepare her application for admission to Hongik University. However, she had not managed to do anything concrete. She had fallen asleep on the sofa in the living room and no one had bothered to wake her up so that she could sleep a little more comfortably in her bed. This had caused her terrible back pain. And to top it all off, on the other side of the room, she heard a hubbub of muffled laughter that finished putting her in a bad mood. She looked up over the couch backrest and painfully squinted to see what was happening. First she saw three blurry silhouettes in the kitchen. She then recognized her sister who was taking a tray out of the oven, invading the room with an exquisite sweet smell. Her two other roommates leaning against the counter were squealing with joy.

- It would be great to have that on our menu! Yoo Jin exclaimed, admiring the shine of the raspberry coulis of the tartlet she had in her hand.

- It'll be free for us, won't it, Jin Ah? Bo Hwa joked as she swallowed two tarts at a time.